No way Cats will impose surfing ban

AFL: Geelong coach Chris Scott said he would spark a mutiny among his players if he tried to implement a surfing ban.

"I reckon I would,” Scott told reporters yesterday after it was confirmed Cats defender Lachie Henderson (pictured) was out on the water along Victoria's Surf Coast when a nearby surfer was knocked off his board by a shark.

"We've got a lot of surfers and it's an important part of their preparation,” Scott said.

Among those Cats who like to hit the water is Brownlow Medal favourite Patrick Dangerfield.

Henderson had been surfing with former Carlton teammate and now North Melbourne forward Jarrad Waite when the close call occurred.

"I was interested to hear that they stayed out there. I knew they were brave but I didn't realise they were that brave,” Scott said.

"It probably suggests to me it was more likely a dolphin than a shark.”

Swans, however, are at the forefront of Scott's mind this week with Geelong preparing to meet Sydney in Friday night's preliminary final at the MCG. The winner advances to the grand final.

Henderson is fit to return from a knee injury, meaning one of the 22 that beat Hawthorn in the qualifying final may make way for him.

"It's good for the footy club and it's good for the team that we have got lots of options, but we will have disappointed players and unlucky players to miss out,” Scott said.

He said veteran Jimmy Bartel was unlikely to be one of them, as has been speculated.